British and World Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Minesweeping operations’ D.S.M. group of four awarded to Chief Engine Room Artificer James Handley, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (268553 J. Handley, C.E.R.A. 1Cl., “Marigold” Minesweeping 1918); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1908-10 (268553 J. Handley, Ch. E.R.A. 2Cl., H.M.S. Fox); Naval General Service 1915-62, 1 clasp, Persian Gulf 1909-1914 (268553 J. Handley, Ch. E.R.A. 1Cl., H.M.S. Fox); 1914-15 Star (268553 J. Handley, C.E.R.A. 1, R.N.) very fine (4) £750-850

Ex Captain Douglas-Morris Collection, D.N.W. 12 February 1997.

D.S.M. London Gazette 5 October 1918 ‘The following awards have been approved for services in minesweeping operations between 1 January and 30 June 1918.’

H.M.S. Marigold (Ex Ivy) was a Flower Class (Acacia Type) Fleet Minesweeping Sloop. Her measurements were length 262 feet, breadth 33 feet, draft 11 feet, speed 16 1/2 knots of 1,200 tons displacement. All of the Flower Class ships were built along merchant ship lines to facilitate quick production. The 72 vessels of the Acacia, Azalea and Arabis types were similar in appearance and differed only in their armament. In 1918 the Acacia class Minesweepers, including H.M.S. Marigold, served primarily with the Grand Fleet.